Somphongs's Rasbora

About

Somphong's rasbora (Trigonostigma somphongsi) is almost certainly the rarest fish most hobbyists will ever encounter, and for good reason. It was presumed extinct for roughly a decade before a handful of individuals turned up by accident in a shipment of an unrelated species imported to Germany in 2006. Native to the Mae Khlong basin in Thailand, its wild population remains poorly understood, and conservation breeding efforts are still ongoing primarily among dedicated specialists in Thailand and Germany. Visually it stands apart from its three Trigonostigma relatives. Instead of the bold triangular wedge marking typical of the genus, it carries a thicker, more uniform black stripe along its flank, and its body is noticeably more slender and elongated. It also shows more obvious differences between the sexes than any of its cousins. Behaviorally it is a peaceful, somewhat shy mid-to-upper water schooler, and in a mature, well-planted aquarium it would almost certainly make a good community fish. In practice, though, anyone fortunate enough to acquire a group should treat captive breeding as the top priority rather than community display. Spawning follows the classic Trigonostigma pattern, eggs deposited on the undersides of broad leaves, but yields tend to be small, and older, well-conditioned fish are far more productive than juveniles. This is very much a species for the dedicated intermediate keeper, not a casual purchase.